Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-17
rRECoCIOUs CHILDREN,

rRECOCIOUs CHILDREN.
The care and training OF preco-
cious child are among the most vital
duties that fall TO parental oversight.
1t might be said that undue precocity
in child is misfortune, not only TO
the parents, but more especially to the
child, whose very brilliancy is often a
cause for keen suffering. What is a
precocious childt We should say that
he lie one whose mental activities are
prematurely developed, whose nervous
susceptibilities are 30 sensitive, that
the slightest mental excitement finds
expression in language that surprises
us, whose sayings and doings leap far
ahead of the average child, and whose
conclusions are reached without the
ordinary exercise of mental strain or
systematic application.
The precocious child is constantly
saying things SO epigrammatic and
brilliant as to call out the wonder of
admiring parents and relatives; and
oftentimes these strange and unnatu-
raj utterances are made the subject of
remark in the presence of the child,
and some newspapers often devote a
column to this bright and abnormal
child-talk. Nothing could be more
harmful than such encouragement of
Q condition that is out of all harmony
with healthful, mental and physical
growth.
AS rule the precocious child is OF
q strumous or scrofulous diathesis,
with fair. brilliant complexion, blue
eyes and golden hair, beautiful to look
upon according to popular standards.
He is delicately sensitive to mental
impressions, and alive to the CONVEX
sation of persons much older than he.
He generally goes on in bis unique
career, outstripping his brothers and
sisters, as we'll as his schoolmates, In
the committing of tasks at school, as
well as in the reading of books far be
yond their comprehension.
This generally goes on until the age
of puberty. then he begins to falter
The hectic flush is seen upon the fail
cheek, the eye becomes more brilliant
and the finer and the spiritual elc
ments come out with almost super
natural intensity. After a while ,
slight cough arrests the attention; ant
before the fond parent Is aware
phthisis tuberculosis has laid the foun
dation for premature death.
Now, what shall be done to saw,
such children, and make them develop
into healthy men and womens
Firs. we would say, "Let them Sc
verely alone" By this we mean, d.
not encourage the precocious devel
opment by pushing the child ahead
and showing the foolish weakness 0
exhibiting the child to visitors, or dis
playing him at the performance o
Sunday school concerts or publ,
school exhibitions. We always pity
the poor victims OF such scenes, WHIT
come before audiences and recite stan
dard poems or sing cavatinas to aston
ished crowds in heated rooms, annie
the glare of gaslights, and dressed il
tawdry finery, irrespective OF the eli
mate or weather.
We say We pity such children; ant
when we look upon their pale face!
and attenuated legs, we wish we hat
the power to send them home and pu
them to bed.
second, be simple with such chill
dren; keep them young, and encour
age them to talk child like, TO reat
Geld books, and to play with othel
children. Do not let them remain il
the house in company with the oldel
people when the bright sun is shining
and the other children are rompin,
upon the green with all the glorious
freedom of happy childhood.
We recall the case of little boy
who, at eight years Of age, woult
| crawl under the table or behind tn,
sofa, and read Paradise Lost" ant
the Waverley novels. The fond mothe
told OF the incident with materna
pride. Alas! the dear boy was unde
the sod at twelve. The precociou.
child, whose brain Ia in q state G
"super -excitation," must not be sub
jected to the discipline of the publ,
school. Such children do not worl
well In q system SO full of curbs ant
checks. SO beset with rewards ant
puniehmente. The cons cienees of thes
children are usually morbidly acute
and the suffering occasioned by tn,
exactions of marking and other test
for promotion is often painfully injuri
Gus. A private instructor or selec
school, where there can be more elias
ITCHY in the working OF the machinery
and where the child can be dealt will
as an individual, is far better.
OF paramount Importance is tn,
physical training Of the precociou
child. From the very nature of th,
case, all undue excitement must b,
avoided. The full quota of sleep mus
be insisted upon. No late hours SHOULD
be allowed, full of the amusement
that are such . strain upon the ner.
vous system. The diet should be o
the simplest character, consisting o
food containing all the elements O
nutrition, like milk. bread and soups
| CONNECTIONS, condiments and fancy
dishes should never be set before chill
dren. Give fresh air in abundance
and inure the child to 60 out of door
| In all kinds of weather.
By following the general plan which
has been outlined, we think the preco
| cious child can be carried safely owe
4 i L l.